Staff ReporterSHILLONG, Nov 06: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Hispreaching Son Shylla has warned of agitation which could lead to bloodshed if the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government withholds approval to the Council’s Inner Line Permit and Khasi Lineage Bills.Speaking at a meeting held with the farmers at Iewduh market here on Tuesday, Shylla said, “If government fails to approve the Lineage Bill and ILP, we will not hesitate to come out in the streets even if it leads to bloodshed. I am not afraid even if I get arrested because the indigenous community is under threat.”

The meeting was also attended by Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh besides MDCs, and officials from the department.Shylla, also an NPP MDC from Nongkrem, had recently asked anti-influx groups to reject the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 passed by the state government as he alleged that it seeks to “facilitate” influx into the state.The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) had passed the KHAD (Inner Line as adapted from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018 and KHAD (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) (First Amendment) Bill, 2018 last month.Demanding the Conrad K Sangma-led state government to approve the ILP Bill, he said that implementation of the Inner Line Permit system will to a great extent help in regulating the entry of outsiders into the state.Shylla further informed that the Council would soon convene a public meeting to pressurize the state government to ensure that the ILP is implemented within its jurisdiction.On the other hand, Shylla said that the government should also consider clearing the Lineage Bill which is urgently required in order to prevent the danger arising out of mixed marriages.“The government should approve this Bill. I warned that you will see what we will do if the government fails to comply with our demand,” he added.Shylla also stated that he was unhappy to learn that 75 per cent of Khasi women in Iewduh are married to non-tribals. “This is a silent invasion (through mixed marriage),” he said.